Newsletter Spring 2012.Pub

Monks Orchard Residents’ Association MORA COMMITTEE MEMBERS 2011-2012 www.monks-orchard-web.org.uk email: [email protected] Chairman Dave King 8 777 9055 Croydon Vice Chairman Vacancy - (Non Party) (Independent) Secretary Mary Evans 8 777 4230 ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ Treasurer Terry Greenwood 8 405 8991 NEWSLETTER - Spring 2012 Planning Ian Fraser 8 654 5787 Membership Secretary Diane McInerney 8 654 6985 Editor/Website Derek Ritson 8 777 6669 Police Liaison Jean Cook 8 777 4927 Primary Care Mercia Nash 8 654 4041 Social Secretary Christine Ross-Smith 8 654 3175 Transport & Highways Vacancy - Ward Panel Rep. Joan Pring 8 656 2296 Trees & Open Spaces Sue & Martyn Buchanan 8 777 7263 Committee Members and { Michael Nash 8 654 4041 Area Managers { Patricia Turner 8 777 9402 { Anne Horton 8 656 8009 Committee Member Nicki Smith 8 654 2194

—  — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — MONKS ORCHARD RESIDENTS’ ASSOCIATION MEMBERSHIP APPLICATION FORM Woodland Way, Shirley ‘I wish to become a member of the Monks Orchard Residents’ Association’

Name: Signature: I N T H I S I S S U E: Page 2 Chairman's Comments Page 12 Planning Report Page 3 The Shirley Green Triangle Page 13 Digital TV Changeover Address: Page 4 Shirley Singers Page 14 Shirley & Ashburton SNT Page 5 Thank You - Help for Page 15 Membership of the Association Heroes Page 16 Burning Waste in Beddington Page 6 MORA 2012 AGM Page 19 Letter from a member Post Code: Page 7 New procedures for Page 20 Calling all Dog Owners planning applications Page 21 Shirley Supper Club Page 8 Not Plymouth Hoe – But Page 22 MORA Accounts 2011 Please send this completed form to: DIANE MCINERNEY 11 Gladeside, CR0 7RL. Page 9 R.F.Delderfield Page 23 Maurice Swift Obituary Page 10 The Localism Act Page 24 Committee Members 2011-12 Thank you for supporting MORA. Explained Please pass on to a non-member. Printed by MARSTAN PRESS The Monks Orchard Residents' Association was founded in 1923, and Bexleyheath Kent Tel: 020 8 301 5900 represents approximately 2,000 residents.

24 Chairman’s Comments Maurice John Swift By the time you read this we will be well into 2012, our Olympic year, and I th th trust all those who have applied for tickets have been successful in their 20 August 1921 – 20 December 2011 application. It is with regret that we have to inform As you are aware, we have for some time had vacancies on our members of MORA and friends, of the Committee and I am pleased to report we have recently recruited a death of Maurice Swift, past Honorary husband-and-wife team, namely Martyn and Sue Buchannan, to look after Secretary of the Monks Orchard Residents Association and later, a Life our trees and green spaces. Member of the Association. This is an important role as they will be reporting to the Council any areas Maurice was born in Kensington on which require attention, such as broken trees, etc. They will try to retain 20th August 1921. the character of a few acres of our Sceptred Isle. The family moved to Beckenham in This brings me to the point that we still need someone to represent us on the early thirties and he attended the Transport and Highways. Anyone interested, please telephone either Habadasher’s Aske’s School. Maurice myself or any Committee member and we will invite you to meet the enlisted in the Royal Navy in 1940 Committee at one of our meetings. You can be assured of a welcome. where he became a signaller and served at one time under Lord Mountbatten. We also require some Area Managers and Road Stewards to assist Diane in collecting subscriptions. Without subscriptions MORA will fail and we Maurice married Betty in 1953 and they had three daughters. He was cannot let that happen after 88 years. already on the committee of the ‘East Ward Ratepayer Association’ before the name was changed to the ‘Monks Orchard Residents’ I personally am a ‘new boy’ to MORA and your Committee has worked Association’ and served for many years as our Secretary. He was closely hard to keep various developers and their ill-conceived ideas on their involved with the Special Refuse Collections that MORA arranged for toes, which brings me to a letter we have recently received from Mr. Peter residents about 4 times each year before the Council withdrew the Kelly thanking MORA for their successes in the ongoing battle over the service. endless creep of infill developments blighting our suburbs. With Peter’s After retirement, Maurice became active for animal rights, travelling all permission we include at page 19 his letter to MORA. The Committee over Europe whilst still continuing to be an important member of MORA’s appreciates such comments. committee. You will also read elsewhere the proposals to build an incinerator in When his health forced him to give up active life he and Betty moved to Waddon. It appeared the discussions were held ‘in camera’ and the Eastbourne where he died suddenly on 20th December 2011. backbench councillors and press excluded. They were told to leave the The Funeral Service took place on 12th January at Beckenham Chamber as it was “ none of their business.” I leave you to make up your Crematorium and was attended by members of the MORA Committee. own minds what this means to democracy! The Service was conducted by the Rev. Carol Jones – a long-time friend and for some years responsible for the MORA funded Over 60’s Club at A date for your diary—the MORA 2012 AGM on 20th April [see page 6]. St George’s Church. We offer our condolences to Betty, their daughters, other family members Dave King and friends. Chairman

2 23 M O R A

ACCOUNT OF INCOME & EXPENDITURE FOR THE The Shirley Green Triangle YEAR ENDING 31 DECEMBER 2011 MORA are delighted that the Council have now rejected the application for the erection of up to 50 assisted living apartments for the INCOME 2011 2010 elderly. SUBSCRIPTIONS 4,104.00 3,926.00 We know and appreciate all the hard work that BANK INTEREST 4.00 9.00 ADVERTISING REVENUE 1,734.00 2,290.00 many of our members have put in to DONATIONS 3.00 20.00 contributing towards this decision. You XMAS REFUND 64.00 nil considered how this proposed development 5,909.00 6,245.00 would affect your lives, your neighbours’ lives EXPENSES and the lives of the wildlife and fauna within this enclosed and protected area. You advised MORA of your concerns. PRINTING & STATI0NERY 4,785.00 4,815.00 We collated your comments, objections, observations and fears and ROAD STEWARDS 400.00 400.00 compared these to planning law. MORA presented our long document to HALL HIRE (AGM) nil 56.25 the Council for their consideration. A total of 36 individual objections and VESTRY HIRE (2) nil 240.00 a petition were sent to the Council. Our joint voice, and the strength of CHAIRMAN’S/SECRETARIAL EXPENSES nil nil our arguments, have won our case, and the plans have been rejected. SUNDRIES 413.00 207.75 Well done to all. The council’s decision was announced on 23rd INSURANCE (BTCV) 100.00 100.00 December, heralding another New Year, which we hope will be another DONATIONS 25.00 50.00 successful planning year for MORA. AUDIT 10.00 10.00 WEBSITE nil nil The developer knew that the ‘Shirley Green Triangle’ had been previously SUBSCRIPTIONS TO BTCV 35.00 35.00 classified by the Council as: TOTAL 5,768.00 5,814.00 SURPLUS 141.00 331.00  A site of nature conservation.  A site of Borough Grade II Importance CURRENT ASSETS  A site of Local Open Land recognised as being vital for the CURRENT ACCOUNT 6,564.00 6,426.24 quality of life in Croydon. DEPOSIT ACCOUNT 4,950.00 4,946.76 This should have been enough to scupper any plans for development on the site, but the developer argued that these classifications were CURRENT LIABILITIES nil nil NET CURRENT ASSETS 11,514.00 11,373.00 inappropriate as a badger sett was no longer used and the quality of many of the trees was poor. Residents reported that badgers and bats were currently using this area. CARRIED FORWARD FROM PREVIOUS YEAR 11,373.00 11,042.00 MORA recommended that an up-to-date survey should be conducted to BALANCE FOR CURRENT YEAR 141.00 331.00 confirm residents’ observations. MORA also presented evidence that a GRAND TOTAL 11,514.00 11,373.00 Badger sett had been deliberately damaged by blocking entrances and

22 3 scattering broken glass to damage the badgers’ feet. We presented much other information which contradicted the Council’s own planning rules SHIRLEY LUNCH AND SUPPER that define the acceptability of planning applications. The reasons that the Council gave for refusing planning permission were: CLUB “The proposal would involve development on a Site of Nature VISIT TO BRIGHTON, ROYAL PAVILION AND Conservation Importance and Local Open Land and as such would be detrimental to nature conservation interests, trees and the open Lunch in Brighton character of the area, and as such would be contrary to Policies NC1, TUESDAY, 17 April 2012 NC4 and RO8 of the Croydon Replacement Unitary Development Plan) 2006 Saved Policies 7.18 and 7.19 of the London Plan (July 2011).” We are off to Brighton for the day MORA congratulates the Council on their decision. MORA and our on Tuesday 17 April. members put in many hours of work to achieve this result. Some of our Our first stop is at the historic members do not appreciate the volume of work that MORA undertakes to Royal Pavilion that was the protect our environment from inappropriate developments. Our effort has seaside palace of the Prince been rewarded. The plans have been rejected and we understand that Regent. The tour takes about 45 some local residents are now preparing to manage the site appropriately minutes and you can have coffee for the benefit of the wildlife. We wish them well. in the tearoom with its fabulous balcony overlooking the gardens. Shirley Singers present their Spring Concert The Royal Pavilion started as a modest 18th century farmhouse. Architect Henry Holland helped George, Prince of Wales, transform his humble "Songs from the musicals seaside retreat into a handsome neo-classical villa – known as the Marine lots of Rodgers & Hammerstein and others" Pavilion. Saturday 26th May, 2012, In the early 19th century, after George 7.30 p.m. at Shirley Methodist IV had succeeded his father as king Church, and hired the eminent architect John Eldon Avenue, Shirley. Nash, the exotic splendour of the Tickets £8. Royal Pavilion as we see it today was finally unveiled. Contact Janet on , or After our visit to the Royal Pavilion you Christine on will have time to explore The Lanes, Shirley Singers would welcome new voices, in all ranges. the promenade, the pier etc, before we meet up for a three course lunch. We practise on Mondays from 8.00 - 10.00 p.m. at Shirley If you would like to join us, please call me on 020 8654 3175 Parish Hall, and perform concerts usually twice a year. If you like singing, enjoy company and having fun, then why Christine Ross-Smith not come and join us? Contact Janet or Christine.

4 21 Calling all dog owners! THANK YOU I have a much-loved dog myself, I would like to thank all those who have supported our boys and girls in many of you as local residents will Afghanistan during 2011. Those who have knitted hats for the cold have seen me trotting around with nights and those who have contributed to the 1,000 plus boxes of Domino, my black and white goodies we have sent. I have seen copies of thank you letters saying greyhound. He is a friendly boy, with how much these items are appreciated after heavy patrols. a fan club of local school children We will continue in 2012, so who feed him biscuits and give him please keep knitting and cuddles. donating items for our boxes You can see from the above that I eg sweets, gum, tea bags, would not be without Dom, but we must all remember that being a dog coffee, cup-a-soup, chocolate owner brings not only pleasures but responsibilities. Walking the sachets, instant noodles, fruit streets I am horrified by the amount of dog mess left on the pavements. in jelly, biscuits, cereal bars, I do not want to walk in it; even less must non-dog lovers. It’s dirty, soap, wet wipes, toothpaste, tooth brushes, shampoo, unhygienic and downright anti-social. 20th Armoured Brigade is currently the lead shower gel, tissues, socks, formation of British troops in Helmand province, As bad, or in some ways worse, are hats, gloves etc, etc. Afghanistan. those owners who carefully pick up the mess into a plastic bag, tie it up, Please remember we have both and then leave it tucked into a corner, sexes serving, so if you get thrown over a wall, or poked into a any unwanted gift boxes at hedge. I have to regularly remove Christmas or samples from these little presents from my front stays in hotels, these are garden, not the nicest of jobs. With always useful. some owners it seems to be out of sight, out of mind. Do they not realise somebody then has to clean up I can be contacted on after them? I do wonder what their reactions would be if it was thrown and can collect or items can be left at into their gardens. Please, please take it home or put it in a bin, it’s not a 7th Armoured Brigade: Its troops have recently lot of effort. returned from Afghanistan where the brigade was . supporting 3 Commando Royal Marines as the lead We love our pets; we want them to be accepted as vital members of the formation of troops on Operation HERRICK 14. We had stalls in November at community. It is up to us to do all we can to ensure that others also see Shirley Charity Fair selling them as loving companions, rather than pests. hand made cards, cakes, chutneys and toys and sent half the money Local Dog Owner made to The Rifles – the regiment of the late Danny Simpson – and we Ed: There is a £1000 fine for dog owners if their dog is caught fouling pass on all donations to Debbie Simpson and her helpers. the footpath. Lesley Plumb

20 5 MORA 2012 AGM Letter from a Member The 88th Annual General Meeting of the Dear Editor, Monks Orchard Residents’ Association is to be held on RE: Planning Reforms - MORA's Winter 2011 Newsletter Friday 20th April at St George’s Church Hall, Back-garden and ln-fill developments Elstan Way. Doors open at 7:00 pm for 7:30pm start. As someone who has witnessed the deterioration in the neighbourhood, I applaud the warning signs signalled by MORA's Planning Team in its Nominations for 2012/13 committee to be received by the Winter 2011 Newsletter (pages 14,15 and 16 refer). Secretary 21 days before the meeting. The prospect of this and other suburbs being turned into high density Proposed Programme areas is crass and unethical, so the responsibility falls upon residents and Essential Association Business all concerned individuals to do something about it and not to stand idly by Apologies for Absence; while the rest of the ward is sacrificed to overcrowding and greed. Minutes of the 87th 2011 Meeting; Matters Arising; ln addition to the problem with the Planning Inspectorate which operates Chairman’s Report on the Government's policy of sustainable development, there appears to Treasurer’s Report - To Receive and Adopt the 2011 Accounts; be a bias with the Council's favouring ln-fill developments in poor Planning Report; locations in our suburbs. MORA also spells out what is fundamentally Membership Report:& Social Report wrong with the National Planning Policy Framework and the Localism Bill. Election of Officers and Committee for 2012/2013 Two sentences from MORA's excellent article sum up what is happening. Members of the Shirley & Ashburton Safer Neighbourhood Teams “The Government is trying to sell the Bill as a means of incorporating the [SNT’s] will attend, offering the opportunity to raise any policing or views of the public into Planning Strategy. ln reality it is likely the public security concerns. will become apathetic, with an end result of the deterioration of our Gavin Barwell MP will give a brief report back and will answer neighbourhood.” “Monks Orchard continues to attract the interest of questions. those wanting to get permission to develop on small local sites". All our elected representatives have been invited and most have indicated that they will be attending and will be available for Profiteering at the expense of our dwindling local habitat and limited green answering any questions you may have during a specific question & spaces is to be condemned as should the parasitical actions of the land answer session - get your questions ready and preferably send them grabbers within the South East, having to bear the brunt of indiscriminate in advance to the Editor or the Secretary by email or phone so they over-development can be scheduled in an orderly manner MORA has warned everyone of the sorry saga unfolding in our midst, The minutes of the 2011 Annual General Meeting were published in therefore apathy and indifference would sound the death knell for our the Summer 2011 issue of the newsletter and can be accessed on suburbs. Surely its time for residents to make their views known to their the MORA website; a few copies will be circulated in the hall. elected representatives before it is too late. The order of subsequent business may need to change depending on circumstances on the night. Yours faithfully, Peter Kelly

6 19 manufacture products. A new approach to notifying neighbours The incinerator is completely unnecessary as levels of municipal waste are coming down and about planning applications: recycling and composting rates are going up. We Croydon Council has reviewed how it informs local residents and businesses need to keep up with the standards set by high about planning applications in the borough. This is to ensure that people have performing areas. Wales, for example, is aiming an appropriate opportunity to view planning applications that are near to them. It to achieve a 50% recycling rate this year and 75% is also in response to budget constraints, which means that the Council must by 2025. Waste is a resource to be recycled and carry out this function as efficiently as possible in these difficult economic composted, not burnt. The £200 million cost of times. building the incinerator would be better spent on We are making three main changes over the coming months: improved waste reduction, re-use, recycling, • In the light of concerns raised by Resident Associations and composting and anaerobic digestion facilities. Conservation Area Advisory Panels and following the informal consultation we undertook, a review of the procedure rules for the Council's two planning Whether you are for or against incineration, committees has taken place. It is intended to allow properly constituted resident please let your local politicians know what you think about it. Ashburton associations to refer applications for planning permission to planning and Shirley residents are in a unique position of influence. committee. This will be in circumstances where a resident association object but the recommendation is for approval and they consider that the application Chris Sciberras should be determined by the committee. This change is part of a much wider Stop the South London Incinerator Campaign review of the constitution following the Localism Act and is not expected to be in place until May/June 2012. References: • All applications, where we invite local people to view the submitted Stop the South London Incinerator Campaign documents so that they can comment on them, will be publicised by the display http://www.stoptheincinerator.co.uk/ of one or more site notices close to the application site. This will be in addition United Kingdom Without Incineration Network to the adverts that are placed in the local paper (Croydon Guardian) for major http://ukwin.org.uk/ applications and those affecting listed buildings or conservation areas. Direct South London Waste Partnership notification via a letter will cease. These changes will come into effect on 1 April http://www.slwp.org.uk/ 2012. The Health Effects of Waste Incinerators (2008) 4th Report of the • The Council's website will have a facility whereby anyone can register British Society for Ecological Medicine and then be able to create and save searches on properties and areas. You will http://www.ecomed.org.uk/content/IncineratorReport_v3.pdf be able to set them up to alert you when a new application within your search criteria is received. Additionally you can set the "tracking" feature, which will Picture references: automatically email you when the application is going to committee or the A working ‘modern’ incinerator. decision has been issued. We hope to have this in place by 1 April 2012. When The windrose was created by Dr. S. Prokop, BSc, MBBS, the "go" date is known we will arrange training for Resident Associations. MRCPsych, retd Consultant Child Psychiatrist. It is hoped that the combination of these changes will improve the service that The other picture shows two Beddington residents protesting we offer to local residents and their resident associations. outside the public hearing into the SLWP in July 2010. Councillor Jason Perry Cabinet Member for Planning, Transport & Sustainability London Borough of Croydon

18 7 NOT PLYMOUTH HOE Society for Ecological Medicine states that although there are ‘no certainties’ in linking specific health effects to incineration, the medical BUT...... evidence is sufficient to call for the phasing out of incineration. A wind Sir Francis Drake had to learn his bowls somewhere. In Devon? For YOU where rose showing the areas that will be particularly affected by pollution from better than on one of the bowling greens in Croydon’s parks? Ashburton Park, an incinerator in Beddington is shown below. for instance. Generations of bowlers have learned the arts (including the crafty ones) there, and gone on to refine their skills - so could you. What’s special about the game? First it’s a life-long sport (well nearly). You could start in childhood. Over 80s are by no means unusual. Centenarian bowlers are not unknown and Heaven help the youngsters who think they’re in for an easy game against them. Secondly you can play the game all year round – normally outdoor in Summer, retreating indoors late in September. It’s not easy though. Confirmed bowlers experience as much elation and dismay at their day-to-day performance as sporting people in any other game. “It’s time for me to pack up” is said quite frequently. Few do, however, despite severe preoccupations and disabilities. You come to know that it will be better for you tomorrow – that’s the challenge. The bowls (no longer made of wood) are biased. They swing on their way to reach the “jack” – a smaller, unbiased, ball. Get the right line, bowl at the right pace – not too heavy, not too slow- and hear the applause! Get the line and weight wrong then pray to do better next time. Whether you have a good or an “off” day you’ll find friendship and refreshment back in the pavilion. Even the washing-up afterwards can be fun. You’ll be very welcome to give it a try at Ashburton Park Area affected by pollution from an incinerator in Beddington, Bowling Clubs (ladies and men) located in includes Ashburton and Shirley Wards Ashburton Park adjacent to the old library. Open days (Taster Sessions) will be held on Saturday 28th and Sunday 29th April Viridor are describing the incinerator as an Energy Recovery Facility 2012. No need to buy bowls or other kit, and dress is informal while you give (ERF) as it will produce some heat and electricity. However, incinerators the game a try. The club will supply what’s needed on the day. The Open Days are a massive waste of energy as they are only able to produce small will be followed by free coaching sessions on Tuesday evenings through May. amounts of energy while destroying large amounts of useable materials. Roll Up (literally), get the bug and wonder why you didn’t get started earlier in Maximizing recycling instead of burning resources achieves a much life. greater energy gain, simply by not having to go through all the energy More information from: Bob Wright, . intensive processes needed to extract the resources needed to

8 17 Burning waste in Beddington R.F.Delderfield During the 1970s I became acquainted with a gentleman called Arthur. He was Croydon Council voted to go ahead with then in his eighties and had lived in his house in Shirley Avenue from the time it an incinerator in Beddington on the had been built. His garden backed on to what is now commonly called the Sutton/Croydon border on Monday 30 Shirley Triangle, an area of land which has remained untouched since the January. The incinerator will cost the surrounding houses were built. taxpayer £200 million to build as part of a Arthur talked to me about R.F. Delderfield’s books, ‘The Dreaming Suburb’ and £990 million waste contract awarded by ‘The Avenue goes to War’ and how, at one time, Delderfield had lived locally. the South London Waste Partnership The two books, of which The Dreaming Suburb is the first, are about ordinary (SLWP). Viridor, the company who won people and families who lived in a suburban area between the years 1919 and the contract, is expected to apply for 1947. At the planning permission by the middle of this beginning of the first year and have the plant up and running in book Delderfield April 2014. A working ‘modern’ stated that his incinerator characters could be The main drivers for incineration seem to from any South be the increasing landfill taxes and the fact that the Beddington Park London suburb landfill site is expected to be full within the next ten years. The four during the period councils involved in the SLWP (Croydon, Sutton, Merton and Kingston) about which he had have opted for incineration as the easiest way to dispose of waste. Whilst written but that, at it makes good sense to reduce the amount of waste sent to landfill, times, the names of incineration also creates its own problems. actual localities had been used. Arthur’s The main issue for local residents is what the incinerator will be burning. firm belief was that Incinerators take in residential, commercial and hazardous waste the books’ settings including paper, plastics and metals and by heating these at high were based on the part of Shirley in which he lived, in particular Delderfield’s temperatures turn them into bottom ash, fly ash, gases, waste water and fictional ‘Old Nursery’ the location of which is virtually identical to that of the sludge. Although the amount of waste is significantly reduced, a toxic Shirley Triangle. residue of fly ash and bottom ash is produced. Fly ash is classed as Whether or not Arthur’s beliefs were right I can’t say. It would seem, however, hazardous waste and is landfilled, whereas bottom ash, which still that Delderfield did have some knowledge of where Arthur had lived, in the early contains levels of dioxins and metals, is used in construction and will days of its development and his sketch map of the books’ setting does bear an inevitably leach into the environment. uncanny resemblance to the area in the present day. One thing is for certain though and that is that Delderfield had the gift of making Perhaps the most serious problem for Croydon residents is the air his characters come alive and showing them as real people of their time. pollution from incineration. Even modern pollution control devices such There are several other R.F. Delderfield publications, including ’To Serve Them as filters do not prevent the escape of fine nano-particles including PCBs, all My Days’ which was televised some while ago. dioxins and furans, which can pass through the lung lining, causing The sketch map has been reproduced from the hardback edition of The internal inflammation and penetrating to organs. A report from the British Dreaming Suburb, published by Hodder and Stoughton. Joan Pring

16 9 The Localism Act Explained Membership of the Association Many of you will be vaguely aware of the Localism Act, but not be too MORA has been representing the local community for many years, with a certain of what it is, or how it will affect us as a local community. The aim fair degree of success. Perhaps we do not shout about these successes of the Act is to shift power away from central government, reform to make as much as we should, but we have, with the help of local residents, the planning system more democratic, and to ensure that housing managed to restrict much of the more inappropriate development and to decisions are taken locally. It is claimed that this new freedom and support our members when in conflict with the local authority or other flexibility for local government will enable authorities to innovate and official bodies. deliver better value for taxpayers’ money. Some parts of the Act may come into effect as early as April this year. However we now have a problem. The membership subscriptions fund the production of 2000 newsletters for each quarter, the hire of halls and A Government guide to the Act has been published; the details below are rooms for committee meetings and costs of distribution of flyers taken from this. informing members of proposed developments in their areas, plus other  The Act passes significant new rights directly to communities and important activities. We have been informed that the council will no individuals to make it easier to get things done and achieve their longer be writing to residents affected by new development proposals, ambitions for the community. It allows groups the right to express [see page 7] so MORA will in future be the main source of information for an interest in taking over the running of services and to put forward informing members of local development proposals. ideas for the improvement of these services. Our membership is slowly decreasing at a time when our responsibilities  Communities will have the power to approve or reject increases in are increasing as a result of the Localism Act. We need to maintain, or council tax where this is above a base level set by the House of improve the number of members. The Membership Secretary, Area Commons. Managers and Road Stewards are therefore faced with a difficult task.  It is recognised that the current planning system does not give the public enough influence over planning decisions. We have undertaken a detailed analysis of membership and although The proposed solution is to allow forums which include residents, some Road Stewards have collected 100% of their members’ employees and businesses in the area to plan for new subscriptions for 2011, the overall collection rate is only 78% of existing developments, although many “back garden” and infill members which results in a shortfall of approximately £1,000 in developments use land as it becomes available and will not be subscriptions for 2011. We may shortly become no longer financially suitable for such forward planning. viable. Please ensure that you provide your Road Steward with your Many of the applications may be automatically granted full or yearly subscription, preferably early each year, to help fund the yearly outline planning permission. expenses. Similarly developments may be approved without traditional We urgently need additional Area Managers and Road Stewards to planning applications providing they meet minimum criteria and can distribute newsletters to members and to canvass for new members so demonstrate local support. that MORA can continue to represent all our members in the locality. A new infrastructure levy on new homes, businesses and shops will help provide services such as roads and schools. Please help your Residents’ Association to provide a voice  There are changes to the Social Housing system: when the community comes under any threat. Local authorities will have more freedom to set their own criteria for Contact our Membership Secretary on 0208 654 6985 joining the waiting list. Or to her Address on Page 24.

10 15 Some lifetime tenancies will be replaced with tenancies for a fixed term, minimum of two years, but more usually five years. There is no upper time limit. Local authorities will be able to put homeless people into privately Shirley Safer Neighbourhoods team has been rented homes, rather than expensive temporary accommodation. given a new ‘cube’ mountain bike by McDonald’s All the rent collected will be used locally to maintain the social restaurant in Shirley to help the team carry out houses which will help local authorities plan their long term their daily patrols around their ward. housing strategy. The bike was given to the Shirley SNT last week The Independent Housing Ombudsman will deal with all complaints and the team began patrols last week (Monday 19 about social housing. December) on the brand new bike.  Local Authorities will be freed to do anything – provided they do not break any other laws, enabling them to be more creative and Sergeant John Nunn from the Shirley SNT said: innovative. The Secretary of State will have the power to remove “This is an example of how big businesses can unnecessary restrictions and limitations, where there is a good work with partners case to do so. within the local  Local authorities will be able to draw up their own codes of community. We are behaviour of elected councillors. It will become a criminal offence very grateful to to deliberately withhold or misrepresent a financial interest. McDonalds for the  The rules which require Councillors to maintain an open mind prior mountain bike which to discussions have been clarified. they have provided,  Councils will have more freedom to offer business rate discounts to which will allow us to improve investment in jobs. quickly get around  In the larger cities outside London referenda may be held on the Shirley and make us a question of having an elected mayor. The London mayor will be visible and reassuring taking on activities currently carried out by the Homes and presence on the Communities Agency and the London Development Agency. streets.”  Details of pay for senior officials must be published.  Residents will no longer be fined for overfilling waste bins. Scott Smiley, Area Manager for the Wickham Road McDonalds restaurant  Home Information Packs are no longer required when selling in Shirley said: homes. “McDonalds is very pleased to support the local SNT here in Shirley by The Localism Act includes a considerable number of changes, which are supplying a new bike, for the benefit of the local community.” likely to affect all our lives. MORA is concerned that the changes to the planning system will not help us to preserve the character of the area, although the Act will strengthen the authorities’ powers to tackle abuse. Much more detail is required before we know how the Act will work and its full effects. We hope that the additional freedoms we are promised will help us to protect our area, our environment and our members.

14 11 MONKS ORCHARD RESIDENTS’ ASSOCIATION HANDY ADS SECTION Heritage Brickwork and Restoration Experienced bricklayers specialising in all types of brickwork. Extensions, landscaping, garden walls and patios. I am also recommended on trustatrader website For a free estimate please contact Graham Duffin 07738702414 - [email protected]

CARPET & UPHOLSTERY CLEANING Professional service Excellent results Domestic & commercial Over 12 years experience Fully insured - free estimates and advice. Registered member of checkatrade.com “Recommended, vetted and monitored local trades & services” CREST CLEANING SERVICES 0208 407 5274 - 07771 863519 [email protected]

1-2-3 CHIMNEY SWEEPS A&J NAISH FAMILY BUSINESS EST. 1870 CHIMNEY CLEANED USING VACUUM & BRUSH METHOD TELEPHONE ANYTIME: 020 8668 9914 020 8654 0847 MOBILE: 07956 282298 07956 385112

DISCLAIMER

To the full extent permissible by law, Monks Orchard Residents’ Association disclaim all responsibility, liability, or otherwise, or from any action or decision taken as a result of using this ‘Handy Ads Section’ . We reserve the right to withdraw any advertisement if we receive any complaints about the service provided. To contact us for more details, please telephone Terry Greenwood on: 020 8405 8991.

VIII I Friday Market S. D. P. Property Services St Francis of Assisi Hall [opposite Sainsbury car park, Ravenswood Av.]  Interior/exterior Decorating: Painting, Tiling, Coving, Craft Stalls, handmade cards, crystal gifts, cd’s, silver, bric-a-brac, small Plumbing. gift wrap, Home made Jam’s & Marmalade, Toy’s, Picture Framing,  Carpentry Work: Laminate/wood Flooring, Decking, watch & clock repairs, and many more stalls. Etc Café serving Hot Food For a Stall Please Call: Door hanging, Dado rails. Fridays 9am—1pm Rosie Tel:  All Garden Work undertaken: Fencing, Hedges, Ponds, Borders.

Fully Insured, Free Estimates, References Supplied

Intruder Alarms - CCTV - Entry Phone Call Steve 020 8777 9611, Your Local Approved Installer Installation - Maintenance - Service - Repairs or 07792 700151 Tel 07971 462 469 or 020 8654 2797 62 Shirley Road, Shirley CR0 7EP 42 West Way, Shirley, Croydon

Mark Drake-Lee Shirley Tree & Garden Services ADVERTISE HERE! Tree work-landscaping-garden clearance-garden maintenance- turfing-pruning- To advertise your business in this handy ads section, contact grass cutting-domestic and commercial-one-off and contract. Terry Greenwood on: 020 8405 8991. 31 Homer Road Office 020 8656 3873 Croydon CR0 7SB Mobile 07958 516553 If you place an ad in this booklet, you can get FREE advertising space on our website (www.monks-orchard-web.org.uk) email: [email protected] for 1 year.

II VII Ben Bater Recommended as a ‘Trusted Trader’ CARPENTRY & JOINERY on the Which Local Website

Bespoke storage solutions & furniture / Kitchens & Bathrooms Garden decking & furniture / Outdoor play equipment Doors & Windows & Flooring / All building trades available

For a free quotation call Ben on 07786 155 550 or 020 8656 9859 or e-mail us via our website at www.benbatercarpentry.com

VI III P WOOLGER Hall Hire Reflexology PAINTER AND DECORATOR Under 8? Over 60?, RELIABLE AND FRIENDLY St George's Church Hall could Indian Head Massage and Reiki FREE ESTIMATES be a venue for your Birthday/ for Ladies INTERIOR AND EXTERIOR Anniversary celebration. For enquiries and appointments please ‘phone For Bookings: 4 BROOKSIDE WAY Call George Williams Isabel Mantle, M.I.F.R., SHIRLEY CR0 7RR on 8656 1162. www.belcaretherapies.co.uk 020 8777 4396 020 8656 7201

Mathematics Tuition A Levels, GCSE & 11+ Exams All teachers CRB Checked At your home or with a consultant nearest to you Call: 07903986641 0r email [email protected] to register.

Alturnertives Established 1971 For all your Property Maintenance requirements Serving the Shirley area for the past 23 years Plumbing, Electrical, Carpentry, Painting & Decorating Floor and Wall Tiling, Kitchens & Bathrooms fully fitted and supplied For your free quotation call Richard on 020 8656 5821 07956324756

email: [email protected]

IV V P WOOLGER Hall Hire Reflexology PAINTER AND DECORATOR Under 8? Over 60?, RELIABLE AND FRIENDLY St George's Church Hall could Indian Head Massage and Reiki FREE ESTIMATES be a venue for your Birthday/ for Ladies INTERIOR AND EXTERIOR Anniversary celebration. For enquiries and appointments please ‘phone For Bookings: 4 BROOKSIDE WAY Call George Williams Isabel Mantle, M.I.F.R., SHIRLEY CR0 7RR on 8656 1162. www.belcaretherapies.co.uk 020 8777 4396 020 8656 7201

Mathematics Tuition A Levels, GCSE & 11+ Exams All teachers CRB Checked At your home or with a consultant nearest to you Call: 07903986641 0r email [email protected] to register.

email: [email protected]

IV V Ben Bater Recommended as a ‘Trusted Trader’ CARPENTRY & JOINERY on the Which Local Website

Bespoke storage solutions & furniture / Kitchens & Bathrooms Garden decking & furniture / Outdoor play equipment Doors & Windows & Flooring / All building trades available

For a free quotation call Ben on 07786 155 550 or 020 8656 9859 or e-mail us via our website at www.benbatercarpentry.com

VI III Friday Market S. D. P. Property Services St Francis of Assisi Hall [opposite Sainsbury car park, Ravenswood Av.]  Interior/exterior Decorating: Painting, Tiling, Coving, Craft Stalls, handmade cards, crystal gifts, cd’s, silver, bric-a-brac, small Plumbing. gift wrap, Home made Jam’s & Marmalade, Toy’s, Picture Framing,  Carpentry Work: Laminate/wood Flooring, Decking, watch & clock repairs, and many more stalls. Etc Café serving Hot Food For a Stall Please Call: Door hanging, Dado rails. Fridays 9am—1pm Rosie Tel: 0208 776 1603  All Garden Work undertaken: Fencing, Hedges, Ponds, Borders.

Fully Insured, Free Estimates, References Supplied

Mark Drake-Lee Shirley Tree & Garden Services ADVERTISE HERE! Tree work-landscaping-garden clearance-garden maintenance- turfing-pruning- To advertise your business in this handy ads section, contact grass cutting-domestic and commercial-one-off and contract. Terry Greenwood on: . 31 Homer Road Office 020 8656 3873 Croydon CR0 7SB Mobile 07958 516553 If you place an ad in this booklet, you can get FREE advertising space on our website (www.monks-orchard-web.org.uk) email: [email protected] for 1 year.

II VII MONKS ORCHARD RESIDENTS’ ASSOCIATION HANDY ADS SECTION Heritage Brickwork and Restoration Experienced bricklayers specialising in all types of brickwork. Extensions, landscaping, garden walls and patios. I am also recommended on trustatrader website For a free estimate please contact Graham Duffin 07738702414 - [email protected]

1-2-3 CHIMNEY SWEEPS A&J NAISH FAMILY BUSINESS EST. 1870 CHIMNEY CLEANED USING VACUUM & BRUSH METHOD TELEPHONE ANYTIME: 020 8668 9914 020 8654 0847 MOBILE: 07956 282298 07956 385112

DISCLAIMER

VIII I Planning Report Appeals: LPA Decisions: 116-124 Tower View Ref: 11/02729/P 2 Greenview Avenue Ref: 10/03899/P Appeal Ref: A/11/2166990/NWF Proposal: Erect Two storey two bedroom Proposal: Erection of 3 detached houses with integral garages and 2 detached house at side; formation of semi-detached houses with external garages; formation of access road. vehicular access and parking. Note: This planning permission was refused on 23/11/2011 as the MORA has objected to this and all previous proposal would have an overdeveloped cramped and overcrowded applications. layout, unsatisfactory access and create loss of privacy and visual Notes: Several applications have been made intrusion. An appeal was received on12/12/2011. for this ‘back garden’ application. The size and the impact of this This is another example of ‘Back Garden’ development. development were gradually reduced with each application. This new MORA has objected to the grounds of appeal. application follows an earlier appeal which was dismissed. No decision from Inspectorate as of 29/01/2012 LPA Decision: Permission Granted on 08/12/2011. 79 Verdayne Avenue Ref: 11/02551/P Shirley Triangle Ref: 11/01999/P Appeal Ref: A/11/2167923/NWF Proposal: Erection of buildings to provide up to 50 assisted living Proposal: Erection of 2 three bedroom houses at rear and provision of sheltered apartments for the elderly with associated landscaping and associated parking. MORA objected to this application parking. Notes: The LPA refused planning permission on 30/11/2011 as the layout Notes: Planning permission was refused on 23/12/2011 as the proposal would be cramped and overcrowded and have an unsatisfactory would involve development on a site of Nature Conservation Importance relationship with adjoining property. The development would be and Local Open Land. MORA are delighted with this result and the detrimental to the amenities of adjoining properties by reason of visual positive action of local residents. intrusion, loss of privacy and be detrimental to the visual amenity of adjoining Metropolitan Open Land. 30 Gladeside Ref: 11/03296/P An Appeal was received on 23/12/2011. MORA will object to this appeal. Proposal: Erection of first floor side and single storey side/rear No Appeal decision has been made at 29/01/2012. Note: This was for a large extension which would be out of character with surrounding properties and MORA formally objected on behalf of local residents Don’t Forget to re-tune your Digital TV or LPA Decision: Permission Refused Delegate Committee 16/01/12 Set-Top Box to receive Digital TV! 104A The Glade Ref: 11/00505/P The London TV region will switch from analogue Proposal: Formation of crossover and retention of vehicular and to digital TV on 4th April 2012. Freeview users will need to retune again on 18th April. pedestrian access serving 102, 104A, and 104b The Glade and the retention of revised curtilages for 102 and 104A The Glade. Full instructions can be found at: Notes: MORA understand that a scheme has been granted subject to a www.digitaluk.co.uk 106 Agreement (3 months), for a footpath to serve two properties at the If you need a helping hand, are aged 75 rear of the site which were built with no access rights. MORA understand or over, are disabled, blind or partially sighted, and have lived that this action contradicts the Councils own parking requirements for in a care home for 6 months or more, call the Help Scheme new properties. Clarification is being sought from the Council. free on 0800 4085 900 or visit www.helpscheme.co.uk

12 13 Planning Report Appeals: LPA Decisions: 116-124 Tower View Ref: 11/02729/P 2 Greenview Avenue Ref: 10/03899/P Appeal Ref: A/11/2166990/NWF Proposal: Erect Two storey two bedroom Proposal: Erection of 3 detached houses with integral garages and 2 detached house at side; formation of semi-detached houses with external garages; formation of access road. vehicular access and parking. Note: This planning permission was refused on 23/11/2011 as the MORA has objected to this and all previous proposal would have an overdeveloped cramped and overcrowded applications. layout, unsatisfactory access and create loss of privacy and visual Notes: Several applications have been made intrusion. An appeal was received on12/12/2011. for this ‘back garden’ application. The size and the impact of this This is another example of ‘Back Garden’ development. development were gradually reduced with each application. This new MORA has objected to the grounds of appeal. application follows an earlier appeal which was dismissed. No decision from Inspectorate as of 29/01/2012 LPA Decision: Permission Granted on 08/12/2011. 79 Verdayne Avenue Ref: 11/02551/P Shirley Triangle Ref: 11/01999/P Appeal Ref: A/11/2167923/NWF Proposal: Erection of buildings to provide up to 50 assisted living Proposal: Erection of 2 three bedroom houses at rear and provision of sheltered apartments for the elderly with associated landscaping and associated parking. MORA objected to this application parking. Notes: The LPA refused planning permission on 30/11/2011 as the layout Notes: Planning permission was refused on 23/12/2011 as the proposal would be cramped and overcrowded and have an unsatisfactory would involve development on a site of Nature Conservation Importance relationship with adjoining property. The development would be and Local Open Land. MORA are delighted with this result and the detrimental to the amenities of adjoining properties by reason of visual positive action of local residents. intrusion, loss of privacy and be detrimental to the visual amenity of adjoining Metropolitan Open Land. 30 Gladeside Ref: 11/03296/P An Appeal was received on 23/12/2011. MORA will object to this appeal. Proposal: Erection of first floor side and single storey side/rear No Appeal decision has been made at 29/01/2012. Note: This was for a large extension which would be out of character with surrounding properties and MORA formally objected on behalf of local residents Don’t Forget to re-tune your Digital TV or LPA Decision: Permission Refused Delegate Committee 16/01/12 Set-Top Box to receive Digital TV! 104A The Glade Ref: 11/00505/P The London TV region will switch from analogue Proposal: Formation of crossover and retention of vehicular and to digital TV on 4th April 2012. Freeview users will need to retune again on 18th April. pedestrian access serving 102, 104A, and 104b The Glade and the retention of revised curtilages for 102 and 104A The Glade. Full instructions can be found at: Notes: MORA understand that a scheme has been granted subject to a www.digitaluk.co.uk 106 Agreement (3 months), for a footpath to serve two properties at the If you need a helping hand, are aged 75 rear of the site which were built with no access rights. MORA understand or over, are disabled, blind or partially sighted, and have lived that this action contradicts the Councils own parking requirements for in a care home for 6 months or more, call the Help Scheme new properties. Clarification is being sought from the Council. free on 0800 4085 900 or visit www.helpscheme.co.uk

12 13 Some lifetime tenancies will be replaced with tenancies for a fixed term, minimum of two years, but more usually five years. There is no upper time limit. Local authorities will be able to put homeless people into privately Shirley Safer Neighbourhoods team has been rented homes, rather than expensive temporary accommodation. given a new ‘cube’ mountain bike by McDonald’s All the rent collected will be used locally to maintain the social restaurant in Shirley to help the team carry out houses which will help local authorities plan their long term their daily patrols around their ward. housing strategy. The bike was given to the Shirley SNT last week The Independent Housing Ombudsman will deal with all complaints and the team began patrols last week (Monday 19 about social housing. December) on the brand new bike.  Local Authorities will be freed to do anything – provided they do not break any other laws, enabling them to be more creative and Sergeant John Nunn from the Shirley SNT said: innovative. The Secretary of State will have the power to remove “This is an example of how big businesses can unnecessary restrictions and limitations, where there is a good work with partners case to do so. within the local  Local authorities will be able to draw up their own codes of community. We are behaviour of elected councillors. It will become a criminal offence very grateful to to deliberately withhold or misrepresent a financial interest. McDonalds for the  The rules which require Councillors to maintain an open mind prior mountain bike which to discussions have been clarified. they have provided,  Councils will have more freedom to offer business rate discounts to which will allow us to improve investment in jobs. quickly get around  In the larger cities outside London referenda may be held on the Shirley and make us a question of having an elected mayor. The London mayor will be visible and reassuring taking on activities currently carried out by the Homes and presence on the Communities Agency and the London Development Agency. streets.”  Details of pay for senior officials must be published.  Residents will no longer be fined for overfilling waste bins. Scott Smiley, Area Manager for the Wickham Road McDonalds restaurant  Home Information Packs are no longer required when selling in Shirley said: homes. “McDonalds is very pleased to support the local SNT here in Shirley by The Localism Act includes a considerable number of changes, which are supplying a new bike, for the benefit of the local community.” likely to affect all our lives. MORA is concerned that the changes to the planning system will not help us to preserve the character of the area, although the Act will strengthen the authorities’ powers to tackle abuse. Much more detail is required before we know how the Act will work and its full effects. We hope that the additional freedoms we are promised will help us to protect our area, our environment and our members.

14 11 The Localism Act Explained Membership of the Association Many of you will be vaguely aware of the Localism Act, but not be too MORA has been representing the local community for many years, with a certain of what it is, or how it will affect us as a local community. The aim fair degree of success. Perhaps we do not shout about these successes of the Act is to shift power away from central government, reform to make as much as we should, but we have, with the help of local residents, the planning system more democratic, and to ensure that housing managed to restrict much of the more inappropriate development and to decisions are taken locally. It is claimed that this new freedom and support our members when in conflict with the local authority or other flexibility for local government will enable authorities to innovate and official bodies. deliver better value for taxpayers’ money. Some parts of the Act may come into effect as early as April this year. However we now have a problem. The membership subscriptions fund the production of 2000 newsletters for each quarter, the hire of halls and A Government guide to the Act has been published; the details below are rooms for committee meetings and costs of distribution of flyers taken from this. informing members of proposed developments in their areas, plus other  The Act passes significant new rights directly to communities and important activities. We have been informed that the council will no individuals to make it easier to get things done and achieve their longer be writing to residents affected by new development proposals, ambitions for the community. It allows groups the right to express [see page 7] so MORA will in future be the main source of information for an interest in taking over the running of services and to put forward informing members of local development proposals. ideas for the improvement of these services. Our membership is slowly decreasing at a time when our responsibilities  Communities will have the power to approve or reject increases in are increasing as a result of the Localism Act. We need to maintain, or council tax where this is above a base level set by the House of improve the number of members. The Membership Secretary, Area Commons. Managers and Road Stewards are therefore faced with a difficult task.  It is recognised that the current planning system does not give the public enough influence over planning decisions. We have undertaken a detailed analysis of membership and although The proposed solution is to allow forums which include residents, some Road Stewards have collected 100% of their members’ employees and businesses in the area to plan for new subscriptions for 2011, the overall collection rate is only 78% of existing developments, although many “back garden” and infill members which results in a shortfall of approximately £1,000 in developments use land as it becomes available and will not be subscriptions for 2011. We may shortly become no longer financially suitable for such forward planning. viable. Please ensure that you provide your Road Steward with your Many of the applications may be automatically granted full or yearly subscription, preferably early each year, to help fund the yearly outline planning permission. expenses. Similarly developments may be approved without traditional We urgently need additional Area Managers and Road Stewards to planning applications providing they meet minimum criteria and can distribute newsletters to members and to canvass for new members so demonstrate local support. that MORA can continue to represent all our members in the locality. A new infrastructure levy on new homes, businesses and shops will help provide services such as roads and schools. Please help your Residents’ Association to provide a voice  There are changes to the Social Housing system: when the community comes under any threat. Local authorities will have more freedom to set their own criteria for Contact our Membership Secretary on joining the waiting list. Or to her Address on Page 24.

10 15 Burning waste in Beddington R.F.Delderfield During the 1970s I became acquainted with a gentleman called Arthur. He was Croydon Council voted to go ahead with then in his eighties and had lived in his house in Shirley Avenue from the time it an incinerator in Beddington on the had been built. His garden backed on to what is now commonly called the Sutton/Croydon border on Monday 30 Shirley Triangle, an area of land which has remained untouched since the January. The incinerator will cost the surrounding houses were built. taxpayer £200 million to build as part of a Arthur talked to me about R.F. Delderfield’s books, ‘The Dreaming Suburb’ and £990 million waste contract awarded by ‘The Avenue goes to War’ and how, at one time, Delderfield had lived locally. the South London Waste Partnership The two books, of which The Dreaming Suburb is the first, are about ordinary (SLWP). Viridor, the company who won people and families who lived in a suburban area between the years 1919 and the contract, is expected to apply for 1947. At the planning permission by the middle of this beginning of the first year and have the plant up and running in book Delderfield April 2014. A working ‘modern’ stated that his incinerator characters could be The main drivers for incineration seem to from any South be the increasing landfill taxes and the fact that the Beddington Park London suburb landfill site is expected to be full within the next ten years. The four during the period councils involved in the SLWP (Croydon, Sutton, Merton and Kingston) about which he had have opted for incineration as the easiest way to dispose of waste. Whilst written but that, at it makes good sense to reduce the amount of waste sent to landfill, times, the names of incineration also creates its own problems. actual localities had been used. Arthur’s The main issue for local residents is what the incinerator will be burning. firm belief was that Incinerators take in residential, commercial and hazardous waste the books’ settings including paper, plastics and metals and by heating these at high were based on the part of Shirley in which he lived, in particular Delderfield’s temperatures turn them into bottom ash, fly ash, gases, waste water and fictional ‘Old Nursery’ the location of which is virtually identical to that of the sludge. Although the amount of waste is significantly reduced, a toxic Shirley Triangle. residue of fly ash and bottom ash is produced. Fly ash is classed as Whether or not Arthur’s beliefs were right I can’t say. It would seem, however, hazardous waste and is landfilled, whereas bottom ash, which still that Delderfield did have some knowledge of where Arthur had lived, in the early contains levels of dioxins and metals, is used in construction and will days of its development and his sketch map of the books’ setting does bear an inevitably leach into the environment. uncanny resemblance to the area in the present day. One thing is for certain though and that is that Delderfield had the gift of making Perhaps the most serious problem for Croydon residents is the air his characters come alive and showing them as real people of their time. pollution from incineration. Even modern pollution control devices such There are several other R.F. Delderfield publications, including ’To Serve Them as filters do not prevent the escape of fine nano-particles including PCBs, all My Days’ which was televised some while ago. dioxins and furans, which can pass through the lung lining, causing The sketch map has been reproduced from the hardback edition of The internal inflammation and penetrating to organs. A report from the British Dreaming Suburb, published by Hodder and Stoughton. Joan Pring

16 9 NOT PLYMOUTH HOE Society for Ecological Medicine states that although there are ‘no certainties’ in linking specific health effects to incineration, the medical BUT...... evidence is sufficient to call for the phasing out of incineration. A wind Sir Francis Drake had to learn his bowls somewhere. In Devon? For YOU where rose showing the areas that will be particularly affected by pollution from better than on one of the bowling greens in Croydon’s parks? Ashburton Park, an incinerator in Beddington is shown below. for instance. Generations of bowlers have learned the arts (including the crafty ones) there, and gone on to refine their skills - so could you. What’s special about the game? First it’s a life-long sport (well nearly). You could start in childhood. Over 80s are by no means unusual. Centenarian bowlers are not unknown and Heaven help the youngsters who think they’re in for an easy game against them. Secondly you can play the game all year round – normally outdoor in Summer, retreating indoors late in September. It’s not easy though. Confirmed bowlers experience as much elation and dismay at their day-to-day performance as sporting people in any other game. “It’s time for me to pack up” is said quite frequently. Few do, however, despite severe preoccupations and disabilities. You come to know that it will be better for you tomorrow – that’s the challenge. The bowls (no longer made of wood) are biased. They swing on their way to reach the “jack” – a smaller, unbiased, ball. Get the right line, bowl at the right pace – not too heavy, not too slow- and hear the applause! Get the line and weight wrong then pray to do better next time. Whether you have a good or an “off” day you’ll find friendship and refreshment back in the pavilion. Even the washing-up afterwards can be fun. You’ll be very welcome to give it a try at Ashburton Park Area affected by pollution from an incinerator in Beddington, Bowling Clubs (ladies and men) located in includes Ashburton and Shirley Wards Ashburton Park adjacent to the old library. Open days (Taster Sessions) will be held on Saturday 28th and Sunday 29th April Viridor are describing the incinerator as an Energy Recovery Facility 2012. No need to buy bowls or other kit, and dress is informal while you give (ERF) as it will produce some heat and electricity. However, incinerators the game a try. The club will supply what’s needed on the day. The Open Days are a massive waste of energy as they are only able to produce small will be followed by free coaching sessions on Tuesday evenings through May. amounts of energy while destroying large amounts of useable materials. Roll Up (literally), get the bug and wonder why you didn’t get started earlier in Maximizing recycling instead of burning resources achieves a much life. greater energy gain, simply by not having to go through all the energy More information from: Bob Wright, 020 8654 3211. intensive processes needed to extract the resources needed to

8 17 manufacture products. A new approach to notifying neighbours The incinerator is completely unnecessary as levels of municipal waste are coming down and about planning applications: recycling and composting rates are going up. We Croydon Council has reviewed how it informs local residents and businesses need to keep up with the standards set by high about planning applications in the borough. This is to ensure that people have performing areas. Wales, for example, is aiming an appropriate opportunity to view planning applications that are near to them. It to achieve a 50% recycling rate this year and 75% is also in response to budget constraints, which means that the Council must by 2025. Waste is a resource to be recycled and carry out this function as efficiently as possible in these difficult economic composted, not burnt. The £200 million cost of times. building the incinerator would be better spent on We are making three main changes over the coming months: improved waste reduction, re-use, recycling, • In the light of concerns raised by Resident Associations and composting and anaerobic digestion facilities. Conservation Area Advisory Panels and following the informal consultation we undertook, a review of the procedure rules for the Council's two planning Whether you are for or against incineration, committees has taken place. It is intended to allow properly constituted resident please let your local politicians know what you think about it. Ashburton associations to refer applications for planning permission to planning and Shirley residents are in a unique position of influence. committee. This will be in circumstances where a resident association object but the recommendation is for approval and they consider that the application Chris Sciberras should be determined by the committee. This change is part of a much wider Stop the South London Incinerator Campaign review of the constitution following the Localism Act and is not expected to be in place until May/June 2012. References: • All applications, where we invite local people to view the submitted Stop the South London Incinerator Campaign documents so that they can comment on them, will be publicised by the display http://www.stoptheincinerator.co.uk/ of one or more site notices close to the application site. This will be in addition United Kingdom Without Incineration Network to the adverts that are placed in the local paper (Croydon Guardian) for major http://ukwin.org.uk/ applications and those affecting listed buildings or conservation areas. Direct South London Waste Partnership notification via a letter will cease. These changes will come into effect on 1 April http://www.slwp.org.uk/ 2012. The Health Effects of Waste Incinerators (2008) 4th Report of the • The Council's website will have a facility whereby anyone can register British Society for Ecological Medicine and then be able to create and save searches on properties and areas. You will http://www.ecomed.org.uk/content/IncineratorReport_v3.pdf be able to set them up to alert you when a new application within your search criteria is received. Additionally you can set the "tracking" feature, which will Picture references: automatically email you when the application is going to committee or the A working ‘modern’ incinerator. decision has been issued. We hope to have this in place by 1 April 2012. When The windrose was created by Dr. S. Prokop, BSc, MBBS, the "go" date is known we will arrange training for Resident Associations. MRCPsych, retd Consultant Child Psychiatrist. It is hoped that the combination of these changes will improve the service that The other picture shows two Beddington residents protesting we offer to local residents and their resident associations. outside the public hearing into the SLWP in July 2010. Councillor Jason Perry Cabinet Member for Planning, Transport & Sustainability London Borough of Croydon

18 7 MORA 2012 AGM Letter from a Member The 88th Annual General Meeting of the Dear Editor, Monks Orchard Residents’ Association is to be held on RE: Planning Reforms - MORA's Winter 2011 Newsletter Friday 20th April at St George’s Church Hall, Back-garden and ln-fill developments Elstan Way. Doors open at 7:00 pm for 7:30pm start. As someone who has witnessed the deterioration in the neighbourhood, I applaud the warning signs signalled by MORA's Planning Team in its Nominations for 2012/13 committee to be received by the Winter 2011 Newsletter (pages 14,15 and 16 refer). Secretary 21 days before the meeting. The prospect of this and other suburbs being turned into high density Proposed Programme areas is crass and unethical, so the responsibility falls upon residents and Essential Association Business all concerned individuals to do something about it and not to stand idly by Apologies for Absence; while the rest of the ward is sacrificed to overcrowding and greed. Minutes of the 87th 2011 Meeting; Matters Arising; ln addition to the problem with the Planning Inspectorate which operates Chairman’s Report on the Government's policy of sustainable development, there appears to Treasurer’s Report - To Receive and Adopt the 2011 Accounts; be a bias with the Council's favouring ln-fill developments in poor Planning Report; locations in our suburbs. MORA also spells out what is fundamentally Membership Report:& Social Report wrong with the National Planning Policy Framework and the Localism Bill. Election of Officers and Committee for 2012/2013 Two sentences from MORA's excellent article sum up what is happening. Members of the Shirley & Ashburton Safer Neighbourhood Teams “The Government is trying to sell the Bill as a means of incorporating the [SNT’s] will attend, offering the opportunity to raise any policing or views of the public into Planning Strategy. ln reality it is likely the public security concerns. will become apathetic, with an end result of the deterioration of our Gavin Barwell MP will give a brief report back and will answer neighbourhood.” “Monks Orchard continues to attract the interest of questions. those wanting to get permission to develop on small local sites". All our elected representatives have been invited and most have indicated that they will be attending and will be available for Profiteering at the expense of our dwindling local habitat and limited green answering any questions you may have during a specific question & spaces is to be condemned as should the parasitical actions of the land answer session - get your questions ready and preferably send them grabbers within the South East, having to bear the brunt of indiscriminate in advance to the Editor or the Secretary by email or phone so they over-development can be scheduled in an orderly manner MORA has warned everyone of the sorry saga unfolding in our midst, The minutes of the 2011 Annual General Meeting were published in therefore apathy and indifference would sound the death knell for our the Summer 2011 issue of the newsletter and can be accessed on suburbs. Surely its time for residents to make their views known to their the MORA website; a few copies will be circulated in the hall. elected representatives before it is too late. The order of subsequent business may need to change depending on circumstances on the night. Yours faithfully, Peter Kelly

6 19 Calling all dog owners! THANK YOU I have a much-loved dog myself, I would like to thank all those who have supported our boys and girls in many of you as local residents will Afghanistan during 2011. Those who have knitted hats for the cold have seen me trotting around with nights and those who have contributed to the 1,000 plus boxes of Domino, my black and white goodies we have sent. I have seen copies of thank you letters saying greyhound. He is a friendly boy, with how much these items are appreciated after heavy patrols. a fan club of local school children We will continue in 2012, so who feed him biscuits and give him please keep knitting and cuddles. donating items for our boxes You can see from the above that I eg sweets, gum, tea bags, would not be without Dom, but we must all remember that being a dog coffee, cup-a-soup, chocolate owner brings not only pleasures but responsibilities. Walking the sachets, instant noodles, fruit streets I am horrified by the amount of dog mess left on the pavements. in jelly, biscuits, cereal bars, I do not want to walk in it; even less must non-dog lovers. It’s dirty, soap, wet wipes, toothpaste, tooth brushes, shampoo, unhygienic and downright anti-social. 20th Armoured Brigade is currently the lead shower gel, tissues, socks, formation of British troops in Helmand province, As bad, or in some ways worse, are hats, gloves etc, etc. Afghanistan. those owners who carefully pick up the mess into a plastic bag, tie it up, Please remember we have both and then leave it tucked into a corner, sexes serving, so if you get thrown over a wall, or poked into a any unwanted gift boxes at hedge. I have to regularly remove Christmas or samples from these little presents from my front stays in hotels, these are garden, not the nicest of jobs. With always useful. some owners it seems to be out of sight, out of mind. Do they not realise somebody then has to clean up I can be contacted on 020 8622 after them? I do wonder what their reactions would be if it was thrown 0332 and can collect or items can be left at 88 Woodmere into their gardens. Please, please take it home or put it in a bin, it’s not a 7th Armoured Brigade: Its troops have recently lot of effort. returned from Afghanistan where the brigade was Avenue. supporting 3 Commando Royal Marines as the lead We love our pets; we want them to be accepted as vital members of the formation of troops on Operation HERRICK 14. We had stalls in November at community. It is up to us to do all we can to ensure that others also see Shirley Charity Fair selling them as loving companions, rather than pests. hand made cards, cakes, chutneys and toys and sent half the money Local Dog Owner made to The Rifles – the regiment of the late Danny Simpson – and we Ed: There is a £1000 fine for dog owners if their dog is caught fouling pass on all donations to Debbie Simpson and her helpers. the footpath. Lesley Plumb

20 5 scattering broken glass to damage the badgers’ feet. We presented much other information which contradicted the Council’s own planning rules SHIRLEY LUNCH AND SUPPER that define the acceptability of planning applications. The reasons that the Council gave for refusing planning permission were: CLUB “The proposal would involve development on a Site of Nature VISIT TO BRIGHTON, ROYAL PAVILION AND Conservation Importance and Local Open Land and as such would be detrimental to nature conservation interests, trees and the open Lunch in Brighton character of the area, and as such would be contrary to Policies NC1, TUESDAY, 17 April 2012 NC4 and RO8 of the Croydon Replacement Unitary Development Plan) 2006 Saved Policies 7.18 and 7.19 of the London Plan (July 2011).” We are off to Brighton for the day MORA congratulates the Council on their decision. MORA and our on Tuesday 17 April. members put in many hours of work to achieve this result. Some of our Our first stop is at the historic members do not appreciate the volume of work that MORA undertakes to Royal Pavilion that was the protect our environment from inappropriate developments. Our effort has seaside palace of the Prince been rewarded. The plans have been rejected and we understand that Regent. The tour takes about 45 some local residents are now preparing to manage the site appropriately minutes and you can have coffee for the benefit of the wildlife. We wish them well. in the tearoom with its fabulous balcony overlooking the gardens. Shirley Singers present their Spring Concert The Royal Pavilion started as a modest 18th century farmhouse. Architect Henry Holland helped George, Prince of Wales, transform his humble "Songs from the musicals seaside retreat into a handsome neo-classical villa – known as the Marine lots of Rodgers & Hammerstein and others" Pavilion. Saturday 26th May, 2012, In the early 19th century, after George 7.30 p.m. at Shirley Methodist IV had succeeded his father as king Church, and hired the eminent architect John Eldon Avenue, Shirley. Nash, the exotic splendour of the Tickets £8. Royal Pavilion as we see it today was finally unveiled. Contact Janet on 020 8654 4112, or After our visit to the Royal Pavilion you Christine on 020 8406 4226 will have time to explore The Lanes, Shirley Singers would welcome new voices, in all ranges. the promenade, the pier etc, before we meet up for a three course lunch. We practise on Mondays from 8.00 - 10.00 p.m. at Shirley If you would like to join us, please call me on Parish Hall, and perform concerts usually twice a year. If you like singing, enjoy company and having fun, then why Christine Ross-Smith not come and join us? Contact Janet or Christine.

4 21 M O R A

22 3 Chairman’s Comments Maurice John Swift By the time you read this we will be well into 2012, our Olympic year, and I th th trust all those who have applied for tickets have been successful in their 20 August 1921 – 20 December 2011 application. It is with regret that we have to inform As you are aware, we have for some time had vacancies on our members of MORA and friends, of the Committee and I am pleased to report we have recently recruited a death of Maurice Swift, past Honorary husband-and-wife team, namely Martyn and Sue Buchannan, to look after Secretary of the Monks Orchard Residents Association and later, a Life our trees and green spaces. Member of the Association. This is an important role as they will be reporting to the Council any areas Maurice was born in Kensington on which require attention, such as broken trees, etc. They will try to retain 20th August 1921. the character of a few acres of our Sceptred Isle. The family moved to Beckenham in This brings me to the point that we still need someone to represent us on the early thirties and he attended the Transport and Highways. Anyone interested, please telephone either Habadasher’s Aske’s School. Maurice myself or any Committee member and we will invite you to meet the enlisted in the Royal Navy in 1940 Committee at one of our meetings. You can be assured of a welcome. where he became a signaller and served at one time under Lord Mountbatten. We also require some Area Managers and Road Stewards to assist Diane in collecting subscriptions. Without subscriptions MORA will fail and we Maurice married Betty in 1953 and they had three daughters. He was cannot let that happen after 88 years. already on the committee of the ‘East Ward Ratepayer Association’ before the name was changed to the ‘Monks Orchard Residents’ I personally am a ‘new boy’ to MORA and your Committee has worked Association’ and served for many years as our Secretary. He was closely hard to keep various developers and their ill-conceived ideas on their involved with the Special Refuse Collections that MORA arranged for toes, which brings me to a letter we have recently received from Mr. Peter residents about 4 times each year before the Council withdrew the Kelly thanking MORA for their successes in the ongoing battle over the service. endless creep of infill developments blighting our suburbs. With Peter’s After retirement, Maurice became active for animal rights, travelling all permission we include at page 19 his letter to MORA. The Committee over Europe whilst still continuing to be an important member of MORA’s appreciates such comments. committee. You will also read elsewhere the proposals to build an incinerator in When his health forced him to give up active life he and Betty moved to Waddon. It appeared the discussions were held ‘in camera’ and the Eastbourne where he died suddenly on 20th December 2011. backbench councillors and press excluded. They were told to leave the The Funeral Service took place on 12th January at Beckenham Chamber as it was “ none of their business.” I leave you to make up your Crematorium and was attended by members of the MORA Committee. own minds what this means to democracy! The Service was conducted by the Rev. Carol Jones – a long-time friend and for some years responsible for the MORA funded Over 60’s Club at A date for your diary—the MORA 2012 AGM on 20th April [see page 6]. St George’s Church. We offer our condolences to Betty, their daughters, other family members Dave King and friends. Chairman

2 23 Monks Orchard Residents’ Association MORA COMMITTEE MEMBERS 2011-2012 www.monks-orchard-web.org.uk email: [email protected] Chairman Dave King Croydon Vice Chairman Vacancy - (Non Party) (Independent) Secretary Mary Evans ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ Treasurer Terry Greenwood NEWSLETTER - Spring 2012 Planning Ian Fraser Membership Secretary Diane McInerney Editor/Website Derek Ritson Police Liaison Jean Cook Primary Care Mercia Nash Social Secretary Christine Ross-Smith Transport & Highways Vacancy - Ward Panel Rep. Joan Pring Trees & Open Spaces Sue & Martyn Buchanan Committee Members and { Michael Nash Area Managers { Patricia Turner { Anne Horton Committee Member Nicki Smith

Name: Signature: I N T H I S I S S U E: Page 2 Chairman's Comments Page 12 Planning Report Page 3 The Shirley Green Triangle Page 13 Digital TV Changeover Address: Page 4 Shirley Singers Page 14 Shirley & Ashburton SNT Page 5 Thank You - Help for Page 15 Membership of the Association Heroes Page 16 Burning Waste in Beddington Page 6 MORA 2012 AGM Page 19 Letter from a member Post Code: Page 7 New procedures for Page 20 Calling all Dog Owners planning applications Page 21 Shirley Supper Club Page 8 Not Plymouth Hoe – But Page 22 MORA Accounts 2011 Please send this completed form to: DIANE MCINERNEY . Page 9 R.F.Delderfield Page 23 Maurice Swift Obituary Page 10 The Localism Act Page 24 Committee Members 2011-12 Thank you for supporting MORA. Explained Please pass on to a non-member. Printed by MARSTAN PRESS The Monks Orchard Residents' Association was founded in 1923, and Bexleyheath Kent Tel: 020 8 301 5900 represents approximately 2,000 residents.